How do you say "Have been doing" in Japanese?

"Have been doing" in Japanese is "をしてきました". This phrase is commonly used in Japan.

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How to Say ‘Have been doing’ in Japanese

Q: What does "をしてきました" mean in English?

"をしてきました" means "Have been doing" in English. Usage tip: [してきました] means [have done up to now], often used for work experience. It sounds more connected to your career history than plain [しました]。

をしてきました

o shi te ki mashi ta

[oh shee teh kee mah-shee tah]

💬 Usage Tip: [してきました] means [have done up to now], often used for work experience. It sounds more connected to your career history than plain [しました]。

Phrase Breakdown

を

[oh]

object marker

A particle marking the direct object of a verb.

Example

営業の仕事をしてきました。

I have done sales work.

し

shi

[shee]

The stem of する, used in many verb forms meaning 'to do'.

Example

新しい仕事をしながら学びました。

I learned while doing a new job.

て

[teh]

and; -ing

The て-form ending used to connect actions or make verb expressions.

Example

努力して成長しました。

I worked hard and grew.

き

[kee]

come; have been

Part of 〜てきました, showing something has continued up to now.

Example

日本で働いてきました。

I have been working in Japan.

まし

mashi

[mah-shee]

polite non-past stem

Part of the polite ending ます／ました used in formal speech.

Example

毎日勉強しました。

I studied every day.

た

[tah]

past tense ending

The ending part of a polite past verb form.

Example

昨日応募しました。

I applied yesterday.

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